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Students were notified by e-mail in a letter addressing these issues that the music department would be dropping the course. In it, You wrote that she is concerned that students do not respect the masters of classical music-Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi and othersčand adds that it would be as troubling for “beginning art students to criticize the art works by Michelangelo or Leonardo de Vinci; beginning physics students to criticize Einstein and Newton...”

Some students, however, say that they weren’t trying to be insulting-they were only expressing that they would prefer to play something else because they were asked.

“I had not seen that [arrogance],” first-year Dylan Bauer said. He’s been playing the viola for 10 years and says that, in his opinion, the orchestra may have needed more practice but did not need to be cancelled.

Bassoonist Stephanie Tofte says she is excited about the cancellation of the course. “I’ve been thoroughly unimpressed with the motivation and commitment of a few of the players,” she said. “Many in the orchestra are frustrated with [You’s] decision.” However, Tofte supports the cancellation.

Orchestra has been taught each semester, and is a requirement for certain music majors. One major concern was that, by not being enrolled in the course, students would lose their scholarships.

At a meeting on Feb. 19, which 17 of 24 students attended, You explained that no scholarships would be lost. On transcripts, the class will show up as a dropped class, and students are encouraged to enroll in Chamber Music in order to receive the same number of credits that they would have earned taking orchestra.

“I think [Chamber Music] will be good, because it’s very hard to go into orchestra and play confidently,” sophomore Katie Jenkins said. Jenkins and her fellow violinists have had a particularly hard time this semester, as there are only eight of them split between two sections. There are more cellos than violins in the orchestra at the momentča relationship that is supposed to be the opposite.

Jenkins says she was “angry and confused” when she first heard of the decision to cancel the class, and was irritated that it was done through e-mail. However, after attending her first day of Chamber Music she said, “We’re doing fun music and getting to know each other as a section,” which she feels can greatly improve the way the orchestra functions when it starts up again next year.

Others share similar hopes.

“I’m hoping that next fall all the problems are addressed. I’d like to say that if they weren’t I wouldn’t join [orchestra] next year, but I probably would,” Katelyn Cooper, a junior and cellist said.

Cooper has been playing with the orchestra longest, having started five years ago as a PSEO student. She supports the decision to cancel the class, and feels it was “the only thing [You] could have done.”

For many, the cancellation seems to be bittersweet.

“I was highly disappointed-this was going to be the one concert when my family was going to see me,” senior Brit Boorman said. Although she’s a history major, she’s spent a lot of time taking music courses here at Hamline. She agreed, however, that students did not seem to appreciate the music as much as they should have. Rather, she feels that if professional orchestras will play Vivaldi, Hamline students should, too.

“If we have the audience enjoying the music, that’s what the point is,” she said.

Bauer stressed that the point of playing music has always been, from his perspective, to put yourself into it and enjoy the fact that you’re playing. He does say, though, that he’ll be coming back for orchestra next year no matter what.

“I’ve got a viola, and I’ve got a passion for music,” he said, adding on a lighter note that he’d even be willing to start an underground orchestra if all else fails.

Jensen echoes Bauer’s sentiments, saying that while she didn’t necessarily agree with the reasons for canceling the course, she feels it can help everyone in the group “take a deep breath.”

Junior Leigh Behrens says that she will miss playing her french horn with the full orchestra, as she feels that it has an effect that no other musical group can quite match. However, she understands the decision. “Just as Yali said, this time is like a grand pause-a fermata-during the great piece that is the Hamline orchestra, rather than the end,” she wrote in a message to the Oracle. “With this time for us to reflect and further our skills as musicians, the next phase will be stronger than ever.”

As for You, she said she’ll be ready and eager to begin working with the full orchestra again next fall-and that she’s in no way done with the orchestra.

“I love music. I love teaching. I love to share with you all, all of you,” she said at the meeting held last week. She adds that the passion she and her students share for music can help them overcome the problems the orchestra has had. “For all you attendees today, I see that music means something to you.”